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Import and local polyolefin prices in Indonesia have witnessed a new round of increases this week, with sellers attributing the uptrend to strong crude oil futures along with expectations of an improvement in demand ahead of the Ramadan month...

Although there were several bearish factors pushing players to hold softer expectations, a major Taiwanese producer’s decision to cut its April PVC prices to China and India sharply caught most Asian players by surprise...

In the Middle East, March PE offers from the regional suppliers emerged with rollovers to increases amid higher energy and upstream costs. However, rising costs have failed filter through the March prices in African PE markets, where prices remained stable or decreased from February...

In China and Southeast Asia, import PS prices have maintained their stable to slightly firmer trend which has been mostly in place since the markets hit a more than one-year low in around early December...

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Global petrochemical producers release Q2 financial results

According to media reports, several petrochemical producers across the globe started to announce their financial results for the second quarter of 2017.

Accordingly, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) reported a stronger financial performance for the quarter ended 30th June, 2017. The company’s standalone net profit rose by around 9% compared to the same period of last year, exceeding expectations of a standalone profit of INR79.93 billion ($1.24 billion). Standalone profit only accounts for the company’s refining, petrochemicals as well as oil and gas exploration businesses. Strong refining and petrochemicals margins reportedly contributed to higher operating profits for the quarter. The company’s net profit was up 28% on year while its revenue also grew by around 27%, meanwhile.

South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. reported that its second-quarter net profit surged by 57% year on year mainly thanks to healthy demand for its key products. The company’s operating profit, meanwhile, rose by around 19% from the same period of 2016.

South Korean S-Oil’s net profit plunged by around 85% on the year due to foreign exchange losses, though. Operating income for the quarter also fell by 82% from last year on the back of low crude oil prices, which curtailed refining margins and contributed to the inventory losses.

In the Middle East, the Q2 results of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) are still awaited, although Yanbu National Petrochemical Co (Yansab) and Saudi Kayan Petrochemicals, two subsidiaries of SABIC, reported their financial results. Thanks to its better than expected second quarter earnings, Saudi Kayan’s net profit jumped by 149% from the same period of last year. However, Yansab reported a yearly plunge of 54% in Q2 net profit over the cited period. The company blamed weak sales performance for the large loss due to the temporary shutdowns and higher feedstock prices.

INEOS also increased its EBITDA by 12% on a yearly basis. The company attributed higher results to good demand particularly in Europe and the US, and their healthy margins throughout Q2.

Poland’s biggest oil refiner PKN Orlen’s net profit fell by 4% in the second quarter on a yearly basis, defying analysts’ increase expectations, due to the fact that higher costs were more prominent compared to sales. Nevertheless, the company’s sales rose 19% on new regulations implemented last year in August to curb the black market of fuel sales.

Czech Unipetrol’s petrochemical sales, meanwhile, moved up by 120% following the Litvinov cracker restart. Accordingly, the company’s net profit posted a yearly increase of 14% while its revenues and operating profit increased by 52% and 42%, respectively.

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